5 Tips for Teaching Kids a Second Language at Home

Does mastering a second language provide kids with several advantages? Yes! In addition to enhancing their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, it also improves their memory and focus. But how should Malayalam as a second language be taught? This one is a bit tricky.

 

Early exposure to a second language can speed up learning, foster respect for diversity, and support cognitive and social-emotional growth. But how can you teach your preschooler a second language without exercises, research, and putting in a lot of effort?

 

When your kids are young, learning a second language is considerably simple. 

 

At Aksharam, our balanced education programs for children incorporate Malayalam learning throughout the day-to-day curriculum lessons. But learning a new language doesn't have to be confined to the classroom; there are plenty of fun ways to practice at home as well.

 

Integrating some strategies for putting your preschooler on the road aids in mastering language proficiency. Everyday support at home is essential if you want your child to learn a second language at ease.

Here are some tips from professionals at Aksharam on how to help your child learn a second language right at home.

So, let's get started.

 

1. Repetition is the key to quick learning

 

The best way for a child to pick up a second language is through engagement and practice. This method can be used at home by first completing a task in the language you usually speak at home and then repeating it in the second language you wish your child to master a few days later. 

Try learning through play. Role-playing is a great technique to help your students gain confidence and improve their speaking abilities. Learners will be able to build and practice their distinct vocabulary in enjoyable ways by being given a variety of role-play settings. And people who are merely observing can also benefit greatly from role-playing.

This makes learning a natural process, and you should try to avoid pressuring your children to learn new words. 

 

2. Employ engaging gestures and physical actions

 

Combining nonverbal communication with vocabulary words assists kids in language comprehension. When your child associates your extravagant and emotional movements, facial expressions, and physical demonstrations with words, the child is more likely to understand and remember those concepts. Now is your time to put your improved abilities to the test.

 

3. Use positive reinforcement

 

Encourage your child by using reflective statements such as "Wow" or "Great" when he/she attempts to acquire or practice a second language. You must have paid close attention in class in order to recall that! Remarkably, you recognize the significance of the practice.

A positive learning environment can do wonders. When it’s the case of kids learning, creating a very pleasing atmosphere to learn in will boost the grasping power and even light up the keen interest in learning a new language.

 

4. Sing songs and share tales

 

Children enjoy singing and listening to fantastical tales; thus, stories and songs, ranging from nursery rhymes to contemporary songs, are among the most effective ways to familiarize children with the rhythm and tone of a new language. This might have a significant effect on their listening abilities and pronunciation.

For language learners, reading is an excellent way to improve their language abilities. Children can use their imagination to picture characters and locations that are not real, giving stories a sense of adventure and enjoyment. 

It also helps kids recall the essential elements of language, such as phrases and sentences, that help them become aware of language structures without concentrating on grammar.

 

5. Put some fun into it

 

While it's true that teaching a child a new language is no easy task, it's important to remember that your child likely has no idea how much effort goes into teaching a language to an adult.

When kids are bored at home, getting them to study through games and activities can help them keep a productive routine and, in the long run, help them become more open and accepting about learning languages and content.

Children have considerably shorter attention spans than adults, and it’s crucial to make sure children confined at home learn languages in a variety of methods. In other words, the language games they play should be short, so they don’t become bored. It's a win-win situation!

 

We hope you’ve found these tips very useful on how to teach your little smart ones a second language at home, especially if you were totally confused or wondering how to teach your kid a second language with mental strains. And if you’re curiously looking for some more tips about the same, you could check out the website of Aksharam, the best Malayalam language learning school online, to see how they make kids learn Malayalam in a fun and interesting way, which is highly impressive. 

 

The different levels of superior Malayalam training classes, deeply focus on enhancing curiosity in kids to learn and master the Dravidian language, Malayalam. You can even enroll in a summer program for the Malayalam language at Aksharam. So, why wait for? Gift your kids a great chance to learn Malayalam perfectly.